ClutchFans Game Thread: Mavericks @ Rockets 2/15/2007

I think DaDakota has seen V-Span play very well first hand in practice. He knows just as much if not more about Span's game as JVG because of all the hours he's spent observing and analyzing his game. That's why he he's so persistent about him getting more playing time.

Right, DaDakota?

 

making 7 out of every ten FTs attempted is not "really bad"...that's "average" and yes he's normally better than that, not to mention that he tends to shoot significantly better in the playoffs (over 80%).

He didn't shoot it well tonight, but if you're insinuating that every guard should be above 80% then good luck with that...it doesn't work that way.

Of course, he wasn't the only one that missed FTs late in the game; Juwon (a good FT shooter, normally) missed a couple and Rafer missed a couple as well.

But again, you can live with the occasional missed FTs but you simply can not forgive bad execution/lack of hustle or effort.

Honestly though, if he shoots 5% higher than he is now (his career average is 75%) would he then be 'not' struggling?

He's an average FT shooter, not horrible by any stretch of the imagination. But traditionally he's upped it during the playoffs.

If you want bad FT shooting then you only have to look at two of the winningest players in the league: Shaq and Duncan.

 

Just watched his press conference.....he admitted as much when he talked about doing better when they committ 2 players to McGrady....

Ah, it is good to be the king !!!

The Rockets should have punished Dallas when they did this, but clearly they were unprepared for it.

DD

 

Exactly, I am actually JVG, and I am just holding him down to piss off Luffy and Old Man Rock.

Back to reality.......

TWELVE FRICKEN points in the 3rd quarter, you have got to be kidding me....

DD

 

Thanks richter911 - always appreciated.

Why can the Rockets media team not give the journalists a proper microphone that would be passed around?? It is impossible to understand the questions, which makes it hard to figure out what question JVG is giving his generic answer ("we have to figure out how to be better" ) to.

 

You amuse me because you were one of those ragging on Dirk because he missed a free throw and now you are trying to say our free-throw shooting tonight wasn't bad. Our free-throw shooting tonight SUCKED.

 

Um... no 70% is not average, and here's the proof:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/stats/b...,FC,C&conference=NBA&year=season_2006&sort=23

Given all qualified FT shooters (1.5 FTM per game), McGrady is near the bottom, and most of the guys there are bigs who can't shoot. MCGRADY IS NOT A BIG WHO CAN'T SHOOT. His career average is 75%, which is mediocre but serviceable. This year his FT shooting has just been bad. Right now, McGrady and LeBron are sinking into Duncan territory when it comes to free throw shooting. This is not good (for either).

"If he were shooting 5% higher" ... He's not shooting 5% higher. He's shooting 69% from the line. He has been a poor FT shooter this year. I want him to pull that up. And yes, good shooters (guards especially) should shoot above 80% from the line. If you can shoot jumpers, you should be able to shoot free throws.

 

It is really a tough loss.

The more I watch Head play, the more obvious it is to me that he does not make good decisions. That is I think why he will never be a good PG and he can not penetrate to the basket well. Both would require good decision-making. Similarly it is a good idea to put ball in his hands to shoot at crucial times, but not a good idea to put ball in his hands to dribble and create opportunities. Really not try to blame the game on him, and just to look at him as a player objectively. I love his 3 shooting game and he is a solid player and can be a cold-blooded clutch shooter. But making crucial decisions is simply not one of his strengths.

 

"We need to do defense better."

80 points scored from the No.1 team is not good enough, huh?

 

IMO, This game was given to us. We just didn't want it. Tracy has to get mentally stronger. A player of his caliber and position cannot slack or lose focus. He does it way too much. Maybe I demand too much effort from him. He can EASILY be the best player in the league, but his mental aspect doesn't allow him to reach that point.

Dallas played horrible tonight. But their effort kept them in it. I'll give Dallas that. They could've easily folded, but they had more heart than us. I know teams are gonna make mistakes, that's natural, but effort is something that CAN be given all the time.

that said...

I still believe if we meet Dallas in a 7 game playoff series this year, we got them. Maybe Tracy needs that playoff spotlight to bring that "elite" out of him. I would've thought all this talk about Kobe, LeBron, Wade, and no mention of him as their once was, would motivate him. But only time will tell...

Come on Tracy, we need you man...

 

This post and your previous one are right on, I agree.

As for Bonzi, the biggest problem I have with him is his laziness and lack of will on defense. He cost us BIG tonight when he insisted on watching the ball roll past him and into the hands of a Dallas player instead of rebounding it...JVG was furious with him, but I doubt it will change anything.

Snyder isn't getting a fair shake from JVG, he played well for us early in the season and played well when he got back...I have a feeling that after tonight's game JVG will be pissed off enough to give Snyder the nod.

 

You amuse me because you lack requisite reading comprehension skills.

FTs are important, and I rag on Dirk NOT because of his FTs, but because he disappears for entire series.

Try again, Dirk...

 

you know in games like these, rafer shows his TRUE colors. he can be a good decision maker, but not when things are this tight against a team that is incredible. however, I do not realistically think it will be better. Somehow, rox have to find a way to beat the best despite rafer. i like the guy, but, not against teams like dallas

 

Rafer's poor shooting aside, his crappy execution at the end of quarters in the second half drove me up a wall. If he can't shoot well, fine, but don't turn the ball over or swing the ball away from #1.

 

i agree he was below sub par, he can be part of winning against the lesser teams in the league, but not against the likes of mavs, an i would say suns. it just won't work.

 

Simply not true.

Anyway, with regards to Rafer, he had some very good games (like the one with the 9 steals), but when was the last time he played at his best against a top opponent? I am a bit worried about his mental strength in the playoffs.

 

during the course of 7 games, i don't see it happening. he will have a good game or 2, but it won't happen in a 7 game series. god I miss yao

 

I don't quite think Dallas played horrible. Our defense was very good. McGrady really does piss off Dirk and it showed. Rafer will kill us in the playoffs, I hope everyone knows that. That pass that Howard stole...I mean just wow.